Redskins advance a round despite Flyers comeback

COLDWATER — After a 2-1 victory against Crestview in the district semifinals, Marion Local clashed in Coldwater with St. Henry for a chance at regionals.

The Redskins were able to pull a quick 8-0 deficit, until the Flyers threw three runs back at them in the sixth, and two in the seventh. However, reliever David Clune was able to record the games last out, sending them to their first regionals appearance in 13 years.

Both teams would go scoreless for two innings until Marion Local’s Ian Rindler would walk two batters, and Logan Link would make him pay with an RBI single to left field. Another single from Hayden Boeckman would bring in Caden Bergman and Link, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Eli Horstman would give the Skins a comfortable 4-0 lead.

In the next inning, St. Henry nearly replicated their previous four-run inning. Nolan Kunkler singled, Bergman walked, both advanced on a double steal, and Devin Delzeith drove them in with a double. Link was hit by a pitch, advanced on a wild pitch, Delzeith and Link scored on an RBI single by Drew Schwieterman to give St. Henry a 8-0 lead.

When St. Henry thought they had it secured, they didn’t. In the Redskins’ biggest game of the season, L. Clune had one of his best outings. Through five innings Clune allowed just one hit, a single by Marion’s Hayden Poeppelman, while striking out five and walking three.

“Lucas gave us a really good start,” said Gast.

“He’s had his share of struggles at times this season, but has really grown up as the year has gone on. He had a really mature outing for us today. He’d had a couple of good starts against Fort Loramie and LCC and we just didn’t help him in those games. Then the schedule hurt him and he was off about eleven days, and I think not being on the mound caused him to struggle against Wapak on Monday. But he overcame that today and really attacked hitters, and that was good to see.” added Gast.

The sixth inning proved Clune’s undoing, as a leadoff walk to Ian Rindler proved costly when Rindler scored later in the inning on a double by Poeppelman.

Marion’s Ethan Heitkamp would then attempt to bunt, however, Clune threw the ball high and wide of first baseman Drew Schwieterman… and Mike Gast decided that his day was complete. David Clune was grabbed from the bullpen to close the inning, but a throwing error by Delzeith at third allowed Heitkamp to score and just that quickly the St. Henry lead was chopped to 8-3.

In the final frame of the game, Poeppelman came to the plate, looking for his third hit of the game. Poeppelman would crack on a gapper in between first and second to right field. St. Henry’s Logan Link got to the ball, but first baseman Schwieterman was late in getting back to the bag after first attempting to field the ground ball. Link’s throw sailed past Schwieterman, allowing both Bruns and Rindler to score. D. Clune would sit down Heitkamp to end Marion Local’s unsuccessful comeback.

The 22-6 Redskins will face off against Pioneer North Central on Thursday in Elida. Marion Local will end their 11-17 season and say goodbye to their seniors.